Windstorms are powerful.  They can both destroy and purify.  Windstorms are Mother Nature’s way of cleansing our world, with strong gusts of wind that sweep old debris, weak branches and even trees from their roots making room for new growth.  Fresh air replaces old stagnant air as it renews and revitalizes the surroundings.

Windstorms happen in our personal lives too.  This is when turmoil enters and disruption and chaos take over.  Just as a storm dies though, so too does turmoil, eventually giving way to calm.  When the dust settles, peace returns as we take a deep breath and survey the events behind us.  It is here that clarity happens and life lessons reveal themselves.

I recently went through a few windstorms that took me by surprise.  I was not prepared for the enormity of the gusts that took my breath away and I worked hard to keep my feet firmly planted and my head clear about what was really important.  Equally surprising was the real storms raging outside my window.  The wind whistled and tree branches whipped to and fro like a fast-moving dance.  Just as the winds have died, so too have the storms in my life passed.  Just as the clouds gave way and the sun broke through, so too has the chaos given way to peace and clarity.  It is a wonderful place to be.

Here, buds are waiting to burst.  Light grows ever stronger and the magic of newness comes forth.  There are untold joys and revelations in the wake of cleansing.  Surviving turmoil makes you stronger, wiser, and better.  That is the irony of life and it seems that one must suffer in order to experience more joys.  Life is not flat and emotionless.  It is ever-changing with cycles of growth, beginnings and endings.  It is through deeper understanding that we come away with greater appreciation for life.

In the wake of my storms, I have come to fields of abundant flowers, bright warm sunshine, and the arrival of delicate blossoms burgeoning on trees.  I am captivated by the birth of new life and embrace it even more so, appreciating all the nuances of the world around me.  I am grateful for all that I have and all that surrounds me.  With both eyes wide open, I see the “bigger picture”.  I understand the lesson that life has provided to me.

Sometimes, life is confusing.  We may cry and laugh and we may laugh until we cry.  We may feel sadness and somehow, odd humour seeps in and tickles our funny bone when we least expect it.  Perhaps the late Gilda Radner said it best: “I wanted a perfect ending.  Now I’ve learned the hard way, that some poems don’t rhyme, and some stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle, and end.  Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what’s going to happen next …. Delicious Ambiguity!”

Ahhh … fresh air!  Feel the breeze and cool air as it comes through an open window.  Like a splash of water, the experience can be totally invigorating.  Fresh air has the power to rejuvenate your senses and re-energize you for hours.  Fresh air is what I experience when I take on a new adventure.  It is through the delight of discovery that rejuvenation happens.

There is a vast world out there to explore and all we need to do is say yes to the realm of possibilities that exist.  We need to go no further than our imagination to start the process and find our own breath of fresh air.  Consider this question: If you had a magic wand, where would you be and what would you do?  It is a fun question that brings out the inner child in all of us.  If there were no limitations and anything were possible, what great adventure would you set out on?  What frontiers would you explore and what mysteries would you uncover for yourself?  Complete this sentence:  “I wonder …. “.  Do it as many times as you feel compelled to.  It may trigger an avalanche of thoughts and inspire you to start your next great adventure in life.

My wondering brought me to the world of nature, with it’s many natural wonders.  Is it any wonder that natural wonders bring the most wonder?  I wonder how many people have wondered over world wonders and I wonder what conclusions their wondering brought.  I wonder what my conclusions would be and whether they would be the same as theirs.  I wonder if they even reached a conclusion or maybe they were left scratching their heads, feeling perplexed.  I wonder if you are feeling perplexed as you read this, but I also wonder if a smile has come over your face.  Isn’t wonder wonderfully wondrous?  If you are wondering whether it is worthwhile to continue reading here, there is only one way to cure your wonder and that is to test it out.  My hunch is that you will be glad that you did.

I have always admired panda bears and wondered about their natural habits.  If I had a magic wand, I would be in China right now exploring panda bears in their natural habitat but since that is not possible, I have come up with the next best thing: a documentary on panda bears.  I found a video at the local library and that is where my adventure began.  It was a delightful experience, a journey of revelations as I witnessed the birth of a baby panda and his first year of life.  I watched the panda parents in awe and the antics of their son as he grew to explore the outer world and even scale lofty trees.  Did you know that pandas spend 12 hours per day sleeping, with some of these high atop a tree?   The joys of life are all around us and watching the baby panda reminded me of this.

We can all learn something valuable from the baby panda.  He reminds us of the value of curiosity, a trait which we all have within us.  Curiosity is what brings great revelations and discovery to our world.  What will you discover today?  Where will your curiosity lead you to?  Whatever it is, be sure to share it as this is what makes our world rich and wonderful.  Open your mind to the possibilities that exist.  Open your window to a world of fresh new ideas and revel in exploring all of the wonders around you!

Our world moves quickly.  It is ever-changing and technology is a constant reminder of this.  As the world evolves, so do we.  As the pace of life quickens, so does our own pace as we strive to keep up with all the changes.  We may rush through our day and rush through meals, rush to get to work and rush to get deals!  Then we rush back home to have dinner and rush to settle in for the evening.  Wait!  Rush to settle down?  That doesn’t sound right!

Hurrying up to slow down seems like a paradox of our times.  It may be necessary though to create the right pace in life for ourselves.  Only when we are out of breath do we realize that we have taken on too much.   This is the lesson that I learned when I found myself running late for my weekly yoga class.

Time had escaped me during my morning activities and before I knew it, I was rushing out the door with my blue yoga mat sailing behind me.  Luckily the studio clock was a little slower than mine and I still had a few minutes to spare.  With my heart still palpitating, I found a spot to lay out my mat and prepare myself.  As the session began, the instructor guided us to focus on our breath.  No problem here!  Easy peasy!  My breath actually commanded attention!  My heart beat perfectly in synch with my rapid breathing!  With my racing mind, palpitating heart, and rapid breath work, I was perfectly out of synch with my yoga practice!  That was when I realized how silly it was to ‘rush to relax’.  It was a shameful violation of the practice on my part and I am sure that if there was such a thing as the Yoga police, I would have been arrested right then and there for improper breath work.  They would have slapped organically baked pretzel cuffs on my wrists and taken me away in a Rice Paddy wagon for months of serious meditation!  That might not have been a bad consequence but I still at the thought of being arrested.  Fortunately for me, the only police present were those in my imagination and even there, they were slowly receding as my mind settled down into my practice.

You will be glad to know that I no longer race to Yoga classes.  I have learned my lesson and intend to keep the police at bay for as long as possible.  Now, instead of losing track of time, I mindfully keep the hour before Yoga rather dull and uneventful.  I may putter with mindless tasks and arrive in plenty of time to begin my practice with a calm mind, peaceful heart and relaxed breathing.  The benefits of regular practice are far-reaching and the more I practice, the more it becomes a natural part of my wellness regime, regardless I am in a Yoga studio or not.  What activity do you commit to regularly in maintaining your own wellness?  I hope it is something that you really enjoy and always look forward to.  Your mind and body will love you for it and you may be rewarded with many extra years of vitality!

Ceremonies and special events are the beautiful memory makers of life.  Like threads of a tapestry, they add to the unique design of our life story.  The celebrations need not be big or lavish, but can be small and informal with one common element: something special.  Participating in events like these creates lasting memories in our minds, hence the rich tapestry of life.

My tapestry is of many shades, with vibrant splashes of  yellows and reds amidst deeper shades of blues and greens.  The colours reflect my emotional experiences, with brighter shades reflecting times of joy and revelry while deeper shades reflect times of sorrow.  In the past month, lustrous strands of the entire spectrum have been added to my tapestry.  Now, as I sit back and look upon my tapestry, I am in awe of the beautiful design that is unfolding before me.

Life is a journey filled with moments.  The richness of life is held in these moments.  As I reflect on the various events I recently attended, I revel in the joys of celebrating with others.  I marvel at the beauty of people of all ages and cultures coming together.  Young and old united, with babies and toddlers seemingly getting all of the attention.  They are the precious little ones that remind us of the miracle of human life.  In all of their innocence, they bring joy through their infectious giggles and antics, regardless they have odd scraps of food on their clothing or unusual aromas wafting from their bottoms!  Perhaps this is the lessons that babies and toddlers remind us of:  to love unconditionally.  Babies remind us that human life is a miracle with all of its’ complexities.  Remember to find humour in life’s moments and consciously add to your own tapestry of memories.

Human nature is a funny thing.  With our own built-in radar system, we are naturally drawn to certain things and prone to particular temptations.  Humans can be lured by anything and everything under the sun, whether it be tangible or intangible, edible or inedible.  In fact, temptations can be so strong that we humans are rendered powerless before them.

Sweet desserts, engaging shows and amazing technology can all capture us to the point of losing ourselves.  Fulfilling temptations such as these are a common part of the human experience that can add joy to our daily life.  Fulfilling these urges is perfectly fine, as long as they do not take precedence over our health and overall wellbeing.  Too much of a good thing can be certainly be problematic.

Consider our beloved computers.  Sometimes we might spend way too much time on our computers.  I have a name for this.  It is called ‘computer-itis’, close cousin to arthritis, with similar symptoms including stiff muscles, sore joints, cramped legs, and gnarled fingers.  No one is immune to ‘computeritis’ and as far as I know, there is no known pill to cure this problem.  However, there is a simple remedy which involves awareness and a common tool we all have in our home: a timer.  I suggest that you set the timer for a reasonable time period, ideally before you anticipate rigor mortis setting in and once the timer sounds, you can rise from the computer and skip all the way to the kitchen for a slice of your favourite dessert!

Knowing your limits is key to healthy living.  What healthy choices have you made for yourself this week?  Was it going to bed at a reasonable hour, joining an exercise club, or simply giving yourself a break in the middle of each day?   There are many ways that you can care for yourself and it is important to make self-care a regular habit.  You will not regret it.  For me, I have committed to quiet activities one hour before bedtime.  It is special time reserved for myself to relax and unwind after a busy day.  Now doesn’t that sound tempting?!